Life
renting vs. buying
Dad, My wife and I have been talking about our plans for the future, and the issue of buying property has come up, as it usually does when we have this conversation. We are comfortable with renting, and we have come to that place through a long process of evaluating our lifestyle. We do not […]
13Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on renting vs. buying | Continued
Chris Dodd – White Hare
Dad, I have been spending some time looking at Chris Dodd. I like his demeanor and his politics. He has a lot to offer and I think that I would like to see Barack as his VP on the ticket. It is early, and I am looking around, and I am influenced and intrigued by […]
13Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Chris Dodd – White Hare | Continued
Blogging in China
Son, So I have been blogging with you for less than two months. Actually, I never read a blog before two months ago. But I think of myself today as a blogger. I write things and I watch the statistics. It is about 2:00 on Friday afternoon. There has been about a three hour lull […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Blogging in China | Continued
Al Gore or Gandhi?
Dad, Like all of his other supporters, I would like to congratulate Al Gore on winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He has big shoes to fill. On February 2, 1977, Jimmy Carter addressed the nation in a cardigan sweater and asked us all to do our part and turn down our thermostat and wear a […]
12Oct2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
Cowboy Diplomacy and noblesse oblige
Son, Noblesse Oblige – the idea that nobility carries with it obligation. The idea is as old as Tunk’s Mountain. The term is French and it means the ‘obligation of the Nobility.’ History has shown that when the Noble Class fails to share the wealth with the people, the people will ultimately revolt. The American […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Al Gore – Ozone Man
Son, The sweet smell of vindication. Time will ultimately tell the truth. Al Gore has been awarded the Nobel Prize for his lifetime achievement in bringing the issue of Global Warming to the attention of humanity. In 1992 Al Gore was a Vice Presidential Candidate, running with Bill Clinton on the Democratic ticket. They were […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Al Gore – Ozone Man | Continued
Sabre Rattling – a necessary evil?
Son, Is there any evil that is necessary, that is somehow justified? The problem is in the definition of evil. Evil is a complex concept – debated by the intelligencia. Let’s reduce the idea to something more simple, focusing on one element. It is not evil to be clear about consequences. Actually – it would […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Sabre Rattling – a necessary evil? | Continued
The Al Gore Situation,
Dad, I think that I agree with you about the Al Gore situation. I would be interested to see him in action in another presidential race, but I think that it is a long shot. Even on the environmental issue, he has a lot of questions to answer, but I would tune in for the […]
12Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on The Al Gore Situation, | Continued
Father Guido Sarducci, an American Priest
Son, I was watching some old news clips on television and they had this Priest from the late 1970’s. He was giving a sermon on how God keeps a tally in our lives. He has a sort of Italian accent but I think he must be second generation immigrant because he capably introduces capitalist ideology […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Father Guido Sarducci, an American Priest | Continued
Al Gore – political Tea Leaves
Son, There are people who would like for Al Gore to run for President again. Tomorrow the Nobel Prize committee will announce their selections and Al Gore is a nominee. He is attracting some attention for sure. There is an active Draft Al Gore movement. I happened to be watching a couple of Hollywood Awards […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Serenity Prayer – full version
Son, What has become known as the Serenity Prayer was actually written by a protestant minister in 1934. Reinhold Niebuhr wrote the prayer as a routine closing for a Sunday Sermon. The Prayer has been condensed and cleansed of the reference to Jesus. This was useful to use the prayer as a method of inclusiveness. […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Obama – The Soul of Black Folk – Incarnated.
Son, You are young and you support Barack Obama. The elder statesmen of politics dismiss Obama for that very reason – only the young and inexperienced support him – but what do they know? Young people do not have the experience of time – so you are left to your intuitive hope and faith for […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
The Bible – faith, truth, knowledge?
Son, So we have been talking about faith and truth and knowledge. Let’s put this discussion this in context. For one to say, “I know the Exodus out of Egypt is true because the Bible says so,” is , by the definition of the word know, a position that must be defended with facts beyond […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Bible – faith, truth, knowledge? | Continued
Truth – an understanding
Son, We talked about faith and knowledge – there is another confusing word TRUTH. Let us begin with an example: Ptolemy postulated about 200 CE. that the Sun and the stars rotated around the earth. This became the known truth for about 1700 years. It was a very convenient scientific truth because it fit the […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Faith and Knowledge – differences
Son, You and I talk often about faith. It struck me that perhaps we are getting mixed up on semantics. Faith and knowledge are different things. Knowledge requires proof, faith does not. There is a new show on television with Jeff Foxworthy as the host. It is called, “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?” […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Bill Maher and Chuck Hagel…
Dad, I was watching this clip this morning from Bill Maher: I like Chuck Hagel – he strikes me as an individual who is not influenced by political pressures to cater to the party’s wishes. I think that he probably is not running because he knows that he does not conform enough to win a […]
10Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Bill Maher and Chuck Hagel… | Continued
Bill Maher on Morning Joe
Son, I am listening to MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Bill Maher will be on, but first a few comments about last evening’s Republican debate. How did Fred Thompson do? Joe says ‘…you would expect him to be more prepared.” He didn’t make any major mistakes and that is a good thing. I watched the debate and […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
The Republican Debate – 8:00 PM CST – today
Son, I am watching the Republican debate and hope to sort something out – here they go, I’ll grab what grabs me: Fred Thompson stumbles out of the gate with a crafted answer – his pause reflected a person unsure, and afraid he might make a mistake. Afraid he would fluke out of the spelling […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Dates in Black History, 1875 – 1925
Son, I am cleaning my office and found some old notes from college. I have written recently about racism and thought these significant dates might be enlightening. 1875 – Civil Rights Act – dealt with public accommodation. 1877 – The end of Reconstruction. 1883 – Supreme Court decision overturning the Civil Rights Act of 1875. […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Dates in Black History, 1875 – 1925 | Continued
Fearists: the new face of terror…
Dad, We need a new term. You approached the idea of terrorism in other forms in a previous post. We need to identify that terrorists use violence, but many use fear and it is almost as destructive. I think if you use fear to influence others’ actions or to bring about social or political change, […]
9Oct2007 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
Domestic Terrorism – an oxymoron
Son, Your terrorism post inspired me. Terrorism is not about ideology – it is about power and control from sick people. These are people who will have their way at any cost. Domestic terrorism takes many forms – usually disguised as something else. Sometimes we call it Domestic Violence – that usually refers to a […]
9Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Calcium build-up solutions
Dad, Any idea how to get calcium build up out of my dishwasher? I have this white stuff, I guess it is calcium, caked all inside my dishwasher and it is not cleaning the dishes anymore. Bryan
9Oct2007 | bryan | 8 comments | Continued
Doing better in school
Dad, My daughter went to school without a fit for the second time today. We have been showering her with stickers and praise, and that seems to be working. I have made an effort to focus on her during the few hours that she and I are home together before she goes to school. Of […]
9Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Doing better in school | Continued
People of Color – urbanites?
Son, Do you like the title of this post? Both terms are often used, erroneously, to describe a part of the American population. Bill O’Reilly uses the term ‘people of color.’ Urbanite has become a code word for a particular culture – implying color and crime. Your nephew lives in very rural northwest Missouri. He […]
9Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Strategies for reducing energy – and other lifestyles
Son,I am very pleased with your awareness of your impact on the environment. I was in my twenties during the gasoline crunch of the 1970’s. Conserving was all the rage – for all the wrong reasons. It was about money – about saving money for yourself. That can be a strong motivator – but as […]
8Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 4 comments | Continued
reducing my energy consumption…
Dad, I have been thinking a lot lately about how much energy I use. I try to evaluate my lifestyle all the time to find out if I can improve and better live out the values that I claim to have. I just read an interesting article on phantom power, and there is a good […]
8Oct2007 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
Interpol – fighting terrorism
Son, 60 minutes is interviewing the Secretary General of Interpol – an international police agency. Astoundingly, prior to September 11, 2001, the Interpol offices were not even open on the weekends. That has changed. Their mission is to give international assistance to police agencies around the world. The staff is made up of police officers […]
7Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Interpol – fighting terrorism | Continued
Herm Edwards – KC’s embarrassment
Son, I am a fair weather Kansas City Chiefs fan. But even mildly interested folks like myself are embarrassed this year. The Kansas City Chiefs had one of the most potent offenses of this decade. Today they were shut out in the infamous Arrowhead Stadium. ( OK – they scored a touchdown with three seconds […]
7Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Garth Brooks – ticket follow-up
Son, Garth Brooks was to have a one-time concert in Kansas City, Missouri. The brand new Sprint Center – a KC downtown initiative, would host the concert. The problem was with tickets. How does one get them? Brooks is a real thoughtful guy – selling his gold tickets for $31. The concert organizers went to […]
7Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Garth Brooks – ticket follow-up | Continued
Democratic Choices for President
Son, Some anti-Obama guy keeps writing comments on our blog to criticize anyone who supports Barack Obama. That is his privilege and we have an ‘open comment’ format for that purpose. He likes to make it personal – that says more about him than it does about his choice of candidates – he has not […]
6Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 4 comments | Continued
Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Below is an excerpt from A Toolkit For Christian Education and Action on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, brought to us by our brothers and sisters at Sojourners/Call To Renewal “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in […]
6Oct2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
Ira Glass and the new church experience…
Dad, Ira Glass is a master storyteller. His talent comes not from his ability to spin a story, but from his keen ability to recognize one and nurture it along with questions and encouragements. He is interested in people’s stories, in their lives and the interesting things that happen to them as unique persons. From […]
6Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Ira Glass and the new church experience… | Continued
Remembering Bill Clinton
Son, This next year will see an unusual recalling of a particular Presidency. Hillary Clinton will likely be the Democratic nominee. She is proud of Bill Clinton’s Presidency – and is not afraid to say so (Al Gore should have been so smart.) Allow me to cast a particular viewpoint on that time in America’s […]
6Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Washington Post and Faith
Son, I asked my brother to comment on some faith issues because I do not feel qualified – and I feel that he would have something to offer. He sent me an email with a link to the Washington Post. I don’t think he understood that I was inviting him to comment on our blog. […]
5Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Washington Post and Faith | Continued
Sedaris on Letterman
Dad David Sedaris on Letterman Here is a funny video of David Sedaris reading an essay on Letterman. This guy is funny, relevant, and smart. Bryan
5Oct2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
This American Life (and my top five)
Dad, I have been hooked on this radio show for about three years, and I still can’t get enough of it. I have added a little banner for them on our sidebar. Ira Glass is a genius, but I will talk more about him in another post. The show is downloadable from their website for […]
5Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on This American Life (and my top five) | Continued
Barack Obama, attacked by skeeterites
Son, Barack is being attacked – and the campaign risks spiraling into trivia. But there are important points to be made. Barack does not wear one of those American Flag Lapel pins. Some have said that he is not patriotic because of this. Whoeee! Someone is nuts or something. Barack responded with a long soliloquy […]
5Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
how debt, spirituality, and corruption are shaping our conversations…
Dad, This format, the fireside, is a wonderful way for us to have the kinds of conversations that we have always had. We meander through subjects, we get excited and passionate, and we have small talk and sometimes just take a nap. The difference that we are running in to here is that the format […]
5Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on how debt, spirituality, and corruption are shaping our conversations… | Continued
Garth Brooks – Concert Tickets
Son, Warning to reader : This not a site to buy tickets! We just talk about stuff. Garth Brooks is doing a one-time concert on November 14th at the brand new Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Ticket scalping has become a sophisticated industry and the Brooks concert organizers, along with the City of […]
5Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Jesus might have said…
Son, Jesus was one of those really interesting characters in history; he never wrote anything himself. Socrates was another. The only thing we know about Socrates is what his student Plato reported. The only words we have of Jesus are those written many years later. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John contain many […]
5Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Dave Ramsey provokes
Son, I copied our last chat and have posted it here for our readers to ponder. I hope you do not mind but I felt this was relevant to what we are trying to accomplish on this blog. The readers can get a real flavor our how we talk when no one is listening: 12:55 […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 5 comments | Continued
Robert Johnson – Transformation
Son, Robert Johnson is Jungian Analyst. These are some really fun people – I guess that might say more about me than about them. Really fun in the sense that they talk about the human condition in the context of literature, mythology, and history. My notion is that they take the collective wisdom of man […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Robert Johnson – Transformation | Continued
Barack Obama – hope and caution
Son, You talk about Barack Obama – and you have expressed your support for him. Another reason for a father to be proud of his son. Proud because Barack is not afraid to challenge the status quo, to challenge the old guard, to have the audacity of hope. You again demonstrate the ability and willingness […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 6 comments | Continued
Insanity on the internet – dismissing wackos
Son, Bill O’Reily uses the term, ‘insanity on the net.” He is mad because of criticism that he cannot pinpoint so he casts his blanket curse. Shawn Hannity refers to Congressman Murtha as being insane. He is mad because a respected congressman does not agree with him. Are these guys nuts or something? If we […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Hannah Montana – Skeeterites victim
Son, You and I have been talking about the possibility of commenting on some particular celebrities. Bill O’Reilly had a segment this evening on that very topic. The world of celebrity blogging apparently is very big and popular. The problem is that they have crossed the line with fabricating stories. We have compared blogging to […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Father, Son, Brother, Nephew -village
Son, I relate to the Phantom of the Opera. Sometimes I feel like he and I are related. You are blessed with the wisdom, courage, and the temperament of your mother. She is a lady of extraordinary humanity. She married the Phantom and became forever perplexed. The Phantom is a crazy man, he lives in […]
3Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Father, Son, Brother, Nephew -village | Continued
here’s to the crazy ones…
Dad, the true marriage of art and technology. Thanks to Steve Jobs for giving us a place along the way. And, truly, “think different.” Bryan
3Oct2007 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
Apple Inc. – Highway Reststop
Son, Steve Jobs, inventor, entrepreneur, corporate mogul, marketing wizard, philanthropist – what has he done? Apple Computer has created a stop along the highway, a place where weary travelers in the daily journey through technology can stop in and refresh themselves. This is an old story. The human relationship with technology is the outward manifestation […]
3Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Apple Inc. – Highway Reststop | Continued
Anonymous Blogging – is there value?
Son, Words – are they the same if you know who said them than if you do not know? Do words stand on their own? Does an idea stand on it’s own? Or is in necessary to put everything in the context of who said it? I write as Ohg Rea Tone, a nom de […]
2Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 5 comments | Continued
Rush and Reid: public faces vs. personal faith
Dad, As I was reading my morning news and blog sites, I began to ponder about the ways that our faith should play out in our private and public lives. Rush Limbaugh is a Methodist. I am proud to be part of a theology so diverse that it can include the likes of Rush, President […]
2Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Rush and Reid: public faces vs. personal faith | Continued